Picture News #2

In 1946, Picture News presents a stark editorial warning from Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who harnessed atomic energy for military purposes during the war. Oppenheimer testifies before the Senate Committee on a grim choice facing civilization: the atomic bomb threatens total destruction within months as other nations acquire the knowledge to build it, unless the world unites under a global authority to control it. The editorial explores both the apocalyptic danger and the transformative promise of atomic power—from incinerating cities to heating homes and powering civilization for generations to come.

In 1946 Virginia, Governor Colgate Darden takes action against a group practicing snake worship at Stone Creek Cove, believing the dangerous ritual—where followers use snake bites as a form of faith healing—has no place in the state. When law enforcement arrives to shut down the "Shrine of Divine Healing," they face fierce resistance from devoted worshippers who view the snakes as sacred and refuse to abandon their practice. The clash between religious freedom and public safety plays out as authorities work to end what they see as a threat to reason and education.

After twelve years leading New York City with tireless energy and genuine connection to its people, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia says goodbye to the job in 1946. From racing to five-alarm fires to reading the funny papers on the radio and crusading against gamblers and corruption, LaGuardia earned his reputation as a mayor who refused to stay behind a desk—and New Yorkers learned to expect the unexpected from their leader. As he steps down, the city bids farewell to one of its most colorful and devoted public servants.

War correspondent Ernie Pyle embeds with Company C of the 18th Infantry, following the soldiers through the brutal African and Italian campaigns—from their first taste of combat in Africa through the deadly push toward Rome at Cassino. As the company endures losses, personal tragedies, and the grinding toll of battle, Pyle documents the humanity of these G.I. Joes, witnessing both their moments of hope and the devastating costs of war.

Cartoonist and humorist Milt Gross takes a satirical swing at the day's headlines in "Milt Gross Reviews the News," skewering everything from expert advice on keeping dogs happy to the unintended chaos of a new painting craze sweeping the nation. With a sharp eye for domestic absurdity and social trends gone sideways, Gross serves up four pages of comedy built on the gap between what experts promise and what actually happens in real life. A brisk, irreverent romp through 1946's most ridiculous news cycles.

Perry Como's steady climb from barbershop singer to radio and recording star has earned him a surprising crown: according to Billboard's nationwide polls, his voice dominates America's jukeboxes more than Frank Sinatra's. This biography traces how the unassuming Como built his fame through genuine talent and hard work—appearing on his own radio show, landing film roles, and racking up hit records—all while staying true to his own style rather than chasing manufactured publicity.

Arthur Godfrey brings in $2,000 a week by doing what most radio announcers wouldn't dare: he wisecracking through commercials and ribbing his sponsors on the air—and they can't get enough of it. What started as an on-air quip about a "crunchy wunchy" cereal turned into fan mail that convinced sponsors to embrace his irreverent style, launching him from a steady Washington gig into New York's breakfast airwaves. Now juggling 85 sponsors and a coast-to-coast musical show, Godfrey keeps his audience laughing with his lazy drawl, ad libs scribbled on matchbooks, and jokes about everything from fur coats to backward spelling.

A young woman learns from a beauty expert how to maintain the polished appearance her boyfriend treasured in a photograph while he was away—focusing on practical grooming habits from soft hands and healthy skin to well-kept hair and fresh clothing. This 1946 non-fiction guide offers straightforward advice on the small details that matter most when making a good impression, proving that real beauty comes from consistent care rather than heavy makeup.

Margery Miller, a 22-year-old Wellesley graduate and boxing enthusiast, has become America's first female boxing expert—a remarkable achievement built on a passion sparked at thirteen when she wrote to a sports columnist about a career in the field. From attending her first match in New Hampshire to meeting boxing legends and eventually publishing a biography of Joe Louis that earned endorsement from Eleanor Roosevelt, Margery has carved out a unique place in the male-dominated world of boxing journalism and analysis. Now writing for a New York press syndicate, she brings sharp insight to the sport's biggest moments.

Jack Kelly Jr., an 18-year-old rowing sensation, follows in the footsteps of his father—a former world sculling champion—through years of dedication, discipline, and instruction on the water. By 1945, the younger Kelly has strung together fourteen straight victories and crowned his achievements by winning five sculling championships in a single day, becoming the youngest oarsman ever to claim the Canadian National Singles title. Now serving in the Navy, the undefeated champion carries forward his father's legacy of excellence in this remarkable portrait of athletic ambition across two generations.